TORONTO-In preliminary results Canadian wireless operator Rogers Communications Inc. reported it added substantially fewer new subscribers to its wireless business in the fourth quarter of 2005 than in the same quarter of 2004. However, the carrier also said it managed to reduce its churn, particularly among postpaid customers.
The company expects to release its official fourth quarter results Feb. 9, as well as full year guidance for 2006.
According to the preliminary figures, Rogers posted 216,000 net subscriber additions for both its postpaid and prepaid services during the fourth quarter of 2005, which was about 18-percent less than its results in the same quarter of 2004. However, the carrier said it reduced its churn rate from 2.07 percent to 2.04 percent; most of that change came on the postpaid side, where churn plunged nearly 20 percent, from 1.95 percent to 1.57 percent. Those gains were balanced by growing churn among prepaid customers, which increased 49 percent over the previous year quarter to 3.68 percent.
Rogers’ third quarter 2004 figures were pro forma to include figures from Microcell Telecommunications Inc., which operated the Fido brand. Rogers purchased Microcell late in 2004.
